Conversation Piece
David Bowie · 2019
299 min · 75 tracks · alternative rock
A collage of early Bowie gems, blending whimsical narratives with introspective melodies in a lush sonic tapestry.
Top tracks — play these first
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April’s Tooth of Gold Start here — accessible entry with immediate hook
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Space Oddity (version 1) — This version captures the raw emotion and haunting simplicity of Bowie's classic, providing a glimpse into its nascent form before it became a global hit.
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When I’m Five — The playful lyrics and gentle melody reveal Bowie's ability to blend childlike wonder with profound themes, showcasing his unique songwriting style.
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Angel Angel Grubby Face (version 1) — This track exemplifies Bowie’s storytelling prowess, weaving vivid imagery with an infectious rhythm that highlights his early experimentation with sound.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- reflective moments of quiet introspection
- short tracks for casual listening
- exploratory takes on familiar themes
- nostalgic echoes of past artistry
- intimate sessions for focused engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer high-energy, fast-paced music
- looking for polished studio productions
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Deep Cut — Compiles rare material, providing insight into Bowie's early creative processes.
- Themes
- 1960s artistic evolution· raw creative process· whimsical storytelling
- Career context
- Released posthumously in 2019, Conversation Piece compiles rare and unreleased material from David Bowie's formative years, particularly surrounding the years leading up to his groundbreaking album Space Oddity. This collection showcases Bowie's artistic evolution as he transitioned from his early folk-inspired sound to the more experimental styles that would define his later work.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Brian Eno· Roxy Music· Talking Heads
Tracklist
Disc 1
- 1 April’s Tooth of Gold Start here 2:29
- 2 The Reverend Raymond Brown (Attends the Garden Fête on Thatchwick Green) 2:17
- 3 When I’m Five 3:17
- 4 Mother Grey 3:00
- 5 In the Heat of the Morning 2:59
- 6 Goodbye 3d (Threepenny) Joe 3:19
- 7 Love All Around 2:49
- 8 London Bye, Ta‐Ta 3:30
- 9 Angel Angel Grubby Face (version 1) 2:31
- 10 Angel Angel Grubby Face (version 2) 2:37
- 11 Animal Farm 2:22
- 12 Space Oddity (solo demo fragment) 2:39
- 13 Space Oddity (version 1) 4:02
- 14 Space Oddity (version 2) 5:01
- 15 Space Oddity (version 3) 5:09
- 16 Lover to the Dawn 3:51
- 17 Ching‐A‐Ling 2:58
- 18 An Occasional Dream 2:50
- 19 Let Me Sleep Beside You 2:54
- 20 Life Is a Circus 4:50
- 21 Conversation Piece 3:49
- 22 Jerusalem 4:20
- 23 Hole in the Ground 3:29
Disc 2
- 1 Space Oddity 5:28
- 2 Janine 3:53
- 3 An Occasional Dream 3:18
- 4 Conversation Piece 3:31
- 5 Ching‐A‐Ling 3:35
- 6 I’m Not Quite (aka Letter to Hermione) 4:04
- 7 Lover to the Dawn 5:01
- 8 Love Song 4:08
- 9 When I’m Five 3:13
- 10 Life Is a Circus 5:33
Disc 3
- 1 In the Heat of the Morning (Decca mono version) 2:52
- 2 London Bye, Ta‐Ta (Decca alternative version) 2:36
- 3 In the Heat of the Morning (BBC Top Gear radio session with the Tony Visconti Orchestra, recorded 13th May, 1968) 3:01
- 4 London Bye, Ta‐Ta (BBC Top Gear radio session with the Tony Visconti Orchestra, recorded 13th May, 1968) 2:37
- 5 Karma Man (BBC Top Gear radio session with the Tony Visconti Orchestra, recorded 13th May, 1968) 3:07
- 6 When I’m Five (BBC Top Gear radio session with the Tony Visconti Orchestra, recorded 13th May, 1968) 3:14
- 7 Silly Boy Blue (BBC Top Gear radio session with the Tony Visconti Orchestra, recorded 13th May, 1968) 4:32
- 8 Ching‐A‐Ling (BBC Top Gear radio session with the Tony Visconti Orchestra, recorded 13th May, 1968) 2:51
- 9 Space Oddity (Morgan Studios version – alternative take) 4:22
- 10 Space Oddity (U.K. single edit) 4:42
- 11 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (single B‐side – mono mix) 4:54
- 12 Janine (mono mix) 3:22
- 13 Conversation Piece 3:07
- 14 Let Me Sleep Beside You (BBC Dave Lee Travis Show radio session, recorded 20th October, 1969) 3:20
- 15 Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed (BBC Dave Lee Travis Show radio session, recorded 20th October, 1969) 4:04
- 16 Janine (BBC Dave Lee Travis Show radio session, recorded 20th October, 1969) 3:03
Disc 4
- 1 Space Oddity 5:16
- 2 Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed (inc. Don’t Sit Down) 6:53
- 3 Letter to Hermione 2:36
- 4 Cygnet Committee 9:34
- 5 Janine 3:23
- 6 An Occasional Dream 3:02
- 7 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud 4:51
- 8 God Knows I’m Good 3:21
- 9 Memory of a Free Festival 7:13
- 10 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (single B‐side stereo mix) 4:59
- 11 Letter to Hermione (early mix) 2:33
- 12 Janine (early mix) 3:24
- 13 An Occasional Dream (early mix) 2:56
- 14 Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola (full length version) 5:06
Disc 5
- 1 Space Oddity 5:20
- 2 Unwashed and Somewhat Slightly Dazed 6:19
- 3 Letter to Hermione 2:33
- 4 Cygnet Committee 9:37
- 5 Janine 3:21
- 6 An Occasional Dream 2:57
- 7 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud 4:50
- 8 Conversation Piece 3:11
- 9 God Knows I’m Good 3:17
- 10 Memory of a Free Festival 7:20
- 11 Wild Eyed Boy From Freecloud (single version) 4:54
- 12 Ragazzo solo, ragazza sola 5:19
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Five Leaves Left
Nick Drake
Shares a reflective, intimate songwriting style with a focus on personal storytelling and lush arrangements.
Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos
Explores emotional vulnerability and whimsical narratives through a raw and intimate sonic landscape.
Grace
Jeff Buckley
Combines intricate melodies and poetic lyrics, evoking the same introspective mood and artistic evolution.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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